the amazing journey of the sea turtle

The sea turtle is an amazing creature. They can live for over a hundred years. A female must reach ten years of age before she can lay eggs, and then she returns to the beach where she was born. It is normal for her to lay up to a hundred eggs. Out of that a few survive. In addition to natures dangers, the turtle is faced with poachers who take eggs from nests on the beaches... considered a delicacy by some. The trip out to sea may be met with fishing nets, and their long journey across the ocean from the beaches of Mexico and elsewhere, is full of hazards and pollution. Only the fortunate and hardy survive to return year after year to lay their eggs. This is why I support the effort of those on our beach who protect the newly hatched for release into the ocean as they begin their new shot at life.

recycling is part of the design at Casa J

Recycling is finding its way into mainstream architecture. I designed Casa J incorporating tiles of 75% recycled material, rain water capture, and gray water reuse.

Wood at Casa J is Mexican Parota, which is highly insect resistent. The application is designed for function and style, with a high grade furniture finish for durability.

It is all about details.... at Casa J

It is the details that separate the special from the ordinary. Nature has told us where to build at Chachalaka. And what we build, we carefully design. Casa J style.

exploring the cuisine of mexico....

Along the Pacific Coast of Mexico, you can discover wonderful places to sample fresh seafood. In the fishing village of Tehuamixtle we had a refreshing seafood lunch served with chilled wine and ice cold cerveza.

creating a sense of place...

A house must feel a close relationship with its surroundings, whatever its style. The landscape design and use of outside areas combine to create a place, not just a house. Casa J is open and flows visually with the outside areas. Local stone is used extensively on on the house and the landscape walls, walkways and terraces.

a workplace with a lot of benefits

I am often asked, being in Mexico a lot, "are you retired"? Answer is no. I just do something different, and actually more creative in a broader sense, than what I previously had done. While I was honored extensively for my design work, I would not rest on that success. It is history. Good history, never the less history. I have always had a love of architecture. To me it is something much larger and has a kind of permanence about it. Design on a higher level. That is what I am doing today, and my workplace is my canvas where I am creating Chachalaka. It is work to be sure. However, it is also an amazing place, that requires something equally amazing.

minimal and modern with amazing views... Casa J

Those who have followed along with me as I have developed Chachalaka, and designed the first house, Casa J, have been great supporters as I have transitioned into architectural design. Casa J is minimal and modern, and designed for a beach lifestyle that incorporates todays concerns for the environment. It is also designed to fully appreciate the amazing views.

a morning that seems magical

A morning that seems magical. A mist is coming in off the sea, the sun is rising over the mountains in the distance. A glow of light is highlighting the trees and casting shadows within the house. You can feel the morning with all your senses. I love mornings like this. It is a reminder of how very special this place is.

designing a beach house for light and shadow

Casa J was designed to allow light and shadow to play throughout the structure. Shade walls for cooling, thermal mass for temperature control and solar for power. The sun not only provides a source of energy, it provides a part of the aesthetic of the house. The location on a pristine beach on the Costalegre of Mexico is a place where location dictated the design. A modern open concept in oceanfront living.

thirty seconds at Casa J Chachalaka

A very quick look at Casa J as it nears completion. A modern, eco-smart house on the Costalegre of Mexico.

A love of beaches

I love a great beach. To name a few....  French Polynesia, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Fijian lslands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Coast of East Africa, Lamu, Malindi, Seychelles, Praslin Island, Bird Island, Mauritius, North Africa, Essaouria, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, South America, Chilean Coast, The gulf coast of Mexico, Holbox, Baja, Sea of Cortez and most of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. I think the magic of a beach is measured by a huge wow factor, and the solitude and purity of the experience.  A walk on the beach should be an escape from crowds of people and the daily grind.  

Almost seven years ago, I started looking for a beach to hang my hat.  For me it had to be sunny, it had to be an easy travel day from the West Coast of the U.S. I wanted to have plenty of time to watch the sun set on arrival day.  And, I was hoping for a virgin beach.  After re-looking at some familiar places, I was becoming disappointed.  Even the far away places that I had visited in past years were now discovered by the tourist crowds of the world.  By chance and a fortunate conversation, I discovered a place that I thought no longer existed.  A pristine, beautiful beach area that is undiscovered by tourism - yet accessible.  I now have a stake in this area, and I am bringing to bear all my years of collecting beach experiences in the many places that I have stayed, along with my design experience to create something very special called Chachalaka. A modern eco-smart place to live and play.      

rooms with a view

It is all about view at Casa J. The sighting of the house and the open design create a sense of one with house and it's surroundings. The views are stunning of ocean and beach. A house for oceanfront living in Mexico.

eco-smart is also about preserving.....

Designing a modern Eco-smart house in a beautiful pristine place also means working to protect this amazing place. Our beach is a turtle sanctuary. A place were sea turtles return to lay their eggs. We support the protection of sea turtles. Baby turtles being released into the sea at dusk.

architecture in paradise....

An amazing house in paradise. Casa J is uniquely simple in it's minimalist modern style. Dramatic, yet intimate. It is a house for todays modern concept of oceanfront living.

buying and building on the coast of Mexico

Almost seven years ago I made the then difficult drive to the Mayto area south of Puerto Vallarta. It was love at first sight and the beginning of an amazing project. I found a very special parcel of land fronting the Pacific Ocean, with multiple building sites and breathtaking views of the ocean and beach. I call the place Chachalaka after a native bird. Today, I am nearing completion of a modern, eco-smart house on this land. Many people have asked me how I did this and after seeing it, they certainly know why. The first and most important piece is securing the true title to the land, once you have negotiated a deal with the owner. Acquiring land in Mexico, in many areas, usually means you are dealing with Ejido land. This was the case for me, and it is a process that requires patience and a great deal of effort on the part of the seller, as well as the buyer. Basically you are taking land out of Mexico’s “homestead” system and “privatizing” it. It is a process most sellers and buyers know very little about, so there is potential for misinformation along the way. The “Ejido”, which is a legal governing body of a community, plays a large part in the transaction. The leadership of the Ejido authorizes the sale, signs documents releasing the land, and gets a commission. Needless to say, a good attorney who knows about this type of land is important to have on your team. I chose to be sure that I had legal ownership before starting anything. This took almost three years. Some jump right in without papers, something I would recommend against. The second, and fun part begins when you put in infrastructure to support development and start the design process. I might add, that most everything you do requires permits, and in some cases you deal with both local and Federal regulations. My vision is for multiple homes, however I am focused on one home at the moment. This is a modern, sustainable, eco-smart house that I designed for today’s lifestyle of modern coastal living. I also believe it supports a concept of minimum environmental impact on the land. I have a great team running the construction. I think it is important to really know your contractor. We spent six years getting acquainted. This has paid off. I am in an area that some would consider logistically difficult. And, that is why it so special, a place of pristine endless beaches. It is a perfect hideaway with smart design, architecture and beach, less than two hours from Puerto Vallarta.

minimalist and modern.... casa j at Chachalaka

Minimalist and modern, Casa J at Chachalaka is also Eco-smart. Someone said it's like "Wright and Barragan" met at the beach. I would agree. That was my intent when I designed the house.